To participate in the Cal Grant Program, a California university or college must have an approved Institutional Participation Agreement with the California Student Aid Commission and meet certain requirements in California law.

THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA HAS PUT NEW ELIGIBILITY QUALIFICATIONS ON CAL GRANT PARTICIPATING SCHOOLS.

Qualifying schools must now

Keep their federal student loan Cohort Default Rate (CDR) below 15.5% to remain eligible for participation in the Cal Grant Program. That means that 84.5% or more of the institution's federal student loan borrowers must be successfully repaying their loans within 3 years of completing their certificates or degrees.

Keep their graduation rate above 30% to remain eligible for participation in the Cal Grant Program. That means that more than 30% of an institution's students are completing their certificate or degree within 150% of the published program length. For example,

Their graduates complete a 4-year BA or BS degree in 6 years or less.

Their graduates complete a 2-year Associate or Transfer degree in 3 years or less.

Their graduates complete a 6-month certificate in 9 months or less.

What schools meet the new CDR and graduation rate requirements?

All 10 UC campuses qualify.

All 23 CSU campuses qualify.

All 112 California Community Colleges qualify.

Many private 4-year and 2-year universities and colleges qualify.

Some private career and technical colleges qualify.

To look up an eligible school click here or to download a list of all qualifying Cal Grant schools click here.

To see if your school is ineligible due to the new CDR or graduate rate requirements click here.*

*One exception for 2012-13 academic year: If you were already attending an ineligible school before it became ineligible, you may still use your Cal Grant at that school for the 2012-13 academic year; however, the award amount will be reduced by 20%. Beginning in 2013-14 this option will no longer be available, and you will have to attend an eligible school to use your Cal Grant.

Check back each year for the newly certified list of qualifying schools, because schools that missed eligibility can regain it one year after the award year that their certified CDR and graduation rate improve to the acceptable levels.